By LS Rachel Irving
WTIH 4RAR(Cdo)’s return home comes invaluable experience and knowledge after working with some of the best soldiers in the world.

The battalion had online soldiers before they deployed at already at a high level of readiness and training.
OC B Coy said they deployed with enough time to enhance that training and to work with coalition forces.

“The training levels have therefore just been raised to a much higher bar which is just fantastic. The guys have obtained very high standards and results which meant once the war started, they were in a great position to be able to react to anything that occurred,” he said.

When Army spoke with the OC at Al Asad air base in north western Iraq, there were 30 soldiers with him and another element stationed at Baghdad International Airport.

He said the primary role of the commandos was to provide a quick reaction force to the Australian AO and the secondary role was to provide force protection to the Australian operating base and many subsequent “be prepared” tasks that commandos undertake.

“The primary things we have been involved with have been operating with coalition quick reaction force aircraft, which they actually call ‘alert force’, so for casevac purposes and for recovery of specialist equipment. This required a lot of training with American helicopters – MH47s and MH60s – to fulfill those tasks.”

Morale was high amongst the troops before returning home.

Now the contingent is home, they will take leave and have a well-earned break.

“With regard to the tasks they were asked to conduct – they did a fantastic job,” he said.

“No one dropped their guard for a moment and no one lowered the standards. They did a great job and I am very proud. And we are going home without loss.”

.